Wastewater re-use for peri-urban agriculture: a viable option for adaptive water management?

Urbanization is known to spur land modification in the form of conversion of common land to human settlements. This factor, combined with climate variability, can alter the duration, frequency and intensity of storm drain overflows in urban areas and lead to public health risks. In peri-urban regions where these risks are especially high it has been argued that, when domestic wastewater is managed, better prospects for freshwater water savings through swaps between urban water supply and irrigated agriculture may be possible. As a consequence of re-use of domestic wastewater, expenditure on inorganic inputs by farmers may decline and source sustainability of water supply could be enhanced. Given the fact that, at present, approximately 20 million ha of land worldwide is being cultivated by re-using domestic wastewater, this paper draws on evidence from India to explore: (1) the economic costs–benefits of wastewater reuse in the context of hypothesized links to climate variability; (2) the role of local farming practices, market conditions and crop variety in influencing wastewater reuse in agriculture; and (3) the role of inter-governmental financing in influencing the selection of technical adaptation options for collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater.     

UN Launched the ''''Water for Life'''' Decade

WATER IS ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE. Water is crucial for sustainable development, including the preservation of our natural environment and the alleviation of poverty and hunger. Water is indispensable for human health and well-being. The United Nations General Assembly, in December 2003, proclaimed the years 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life'. A decade of action! The primary goal of the 'Water for Life' Decade is to promote efforts to fulfill internat…     

Environment as the Stage for Economic Actors

The relative importance of economics and environment in debate may soon be reversed due to the influence of three fac- tors. Firstly, in the global economy it is hard to hide the unwanted products of economic processes. Secondly, huge advances in sci- ence will reduce the imperfect knowledge of markets, making some monitoring and analyzing tools show the design of sensible and equitable livelihood in communities, which is more important than the motivation of maximising profits for some individuals or firms. Thirdly, China, as the last major player on the planet to take on economic growth, comes from traditions fundamentally differ- ent from those economies that have experienced the Industrial Revolution previously. Its challenges with sustainability and en- vironmental conservation predate Western economics by millennia, and it is implementing policies domestically and starting to work on the world stage that acknowledges that the surroundings are the host for any economic and socio-political system.     

Sweden-China:Education for Environment and Sustainability

Education for Environment and Sustainability Adbanced International Training Programme 'Education for Environment and Sustainability' Sweden-China was run for the third time in 2007 exclusively for Chinese participants. This advanced international training program is supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)     

Management Strategies for Ecocities of Sustainable Development

Building ecocities becomes an objective requirement for sustainable development. This article discusses the relationship between sustainable development and sustainable urban development. On the basis of discussing the sigificance of sustainable urban development and that of an eco-city from different perspectives, it suggests several management strategies for developing an eco-city, a desirable sustainable urban model.     

Tree bark — sensitive biotest for environment acidification

The Niepo?omice Forest, a large forest complex (11,000 ha), situated about 20 km from a large steel mill and about 40 km from the city of Cracow was the object of study. Sulphur dioxide emitted by the steel mill and the city has already caused acidification of the environment of the Niepo?omice Forest. The degree of such acidification was estimated using tree bark as a bioindicator. The pH value and buffer capacity were determined for three tree species — Quercus robur, Tilia cordata and Pinus sylvestris. The bark of all trees showed acidic reaction ranging from pH 2.2 to 4.7. Difference in pH of bark were found between various localities. The bark of examined species was much more acidic in the western part in the Niepoo?mice Forest than in the eastern part of the forest complex. The buffer capacity of bark also differs in various localities increasing with SO₂ concentration in the air. A good correlation between acidification of tree bark and the concentration of SO₂ in the air of Niepo?omice Forest was found; therefore tree bark may be regarded as a good bioindicator and recommended for practical use to estimate the degree of air pollution. The procedure of sampling and analysis of tree bark is described in detail.     

New Un Report Outlines Indicators for Sustainable Energy Use

A publication outlining key indicators for sustainable energy use, jointly prepared by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Energy Agency, Eurostat and the European Environment Agency, was launched today by the IAEA in Vienna. The report addresses the concern that much of the world's current energy supply and use, which is based largely on limited fossil fuel resources, is associated …     

Packaging redesign – benefits for the environment and the community

Abstract

This paper aims to underline the importance of the packaging redesign process and the potential benefits that can be derived from this for both the environment and the community. The research demonstrates that the redesign of paper corrugated packaging has cost savings for most links of the supply chain such as the industrial customers, retailers, wholesalers and final consumers. In addition, an applied case study will be used that aims to provide evidence that the redesign process could further offer weight and transportation benefits, provide better environmental performance and finally offer better protection for the packaged products. The alternative packaging suggestions made in the research refer to the secondary paper corrugated packaging since the objective is to show the value of the redesign process. The research provides the tools for a packaging designer, on how to estimate, analyse, redesign and compare different approaches, finding the way to a more sustainable packaging supply chain.     

Countermeasures for Implementing Sustainable Development Strategy in Shandong,China

This paper set forth the goals of implementing sustainable development strategy in Shandong Province guided by the view of scientific development of being people oriented, comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable. Based on the target of sustainable development strategy in Shandong province this paper discusses the main tasks in the sustainable development strategy Countermeasures for sustainable development strategy in Shandong province are put forward.     

Strategic Thinking for Sustainable Development of Mining-Based Cities in China

Cities based on mining are distinctive from other cities in China. Their heavy dependence on minerals, a relatively undiversified industrial structure, seriously damaged ecological environment and the rather low degree of openness have all reduced their competitiveness, and severely constrained and hindered their sustainable development. In this paper the authors will study mining-based cities from the perspective of sustainable development, first by having a critical review of their features, and then by researching into strategic options to support their sustainable development.     

Population and Environment： Necessary Transition Initiatives for Developing Countries

Now environment is an important topic in academic field. Many researches focus on the negative outcomes of nature which are being continually created by human and much attention has been paid to how the environment is protected through integrated research, movement and policy. But few studies are concentrated on population and environment and are to find out the interconnectivity and underlying mechanism that have an effect on people＇s preferring additional children and perception to environment. Many researchers claim that population growth is a great problem for environment but they do not provide the indepth integrated knowledge and mechanism that influence fertility trend and environmental problems. It is very crucial to develop practical and concrete initiatives to confirm a transition to reduce population growth and redirect the perception on population and environment.     

The Administrative Centre for China''''s Agenda 21 (ACCA21)

The Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 (ACCA21) was established in 1994 with the approval of the Central Government. ACCA21 is affiliated with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and, with regard to some functions, also operates under the leadership of the State Development Planning Commission (SDPC). In 1998, ACCA21 was merged with the China Innovation Centre for Life Science and additionally took over some functions from MOST.     

Farmers'''' Willingness-to-Pay for Environment and Human Health and Adoption of IPM

Although chemical control of pests increases crop production, it brings a lot of damage to environment and human health. There exist a number of alternative methods that are not so harmful to environment and human health. However, whether and how much in extent these technologies adopted are plausible depends on the comparison of benefit-cost between chemical control and the alternative control methods (such as Integrated Pest Management, IPM) and farmers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for envirorment and human health. Using contingent valuation method (CVM), the author investigates farmers' WTP for environment and human health, recognizes the factors influencing WTP, and accordingly points out the importance of pest control technology extension and government regulation of pesticides.     

Strategy and Mechanism Study for Promotion of Circular Economy in China

1 BACKGROUND OF THE TASK FORCE OF CIRCULAR ECONOMYIn responding to the call from the Chinese government to take the circular economy approach for new industrialization and sustainable development, the Task Force on Circular Economy & Cleaner Production (CETF) of the 3rd phase     

Renewable Energy Legislation in China:Politicaland Institutional Strategy for EffectiveImplementation

Over the past decade, the Chinese government has developed several plans regulations and policy measures related to the development of renewable energy technologies and has implemented a series of pilot projects. Chinese policymakers have spent several years studying how renewable energy policy models that have been used internationally could be implemented in China. Programs are currently underway to implement pilot renewable portfolio standards, or mandatory market shares (MMS) for renewable energy, in several provinces. This paper examines the primary institutions that are involved in promoting renewable policies in China, the structure of the policies that currently are being drafted, and the status of the complementary, national-level renewable energy law being drafted to provide a legal basis for ongoing local and national-level policies. It then examines the legal requirements for promoting renewable energy legislation under the Chinese law-making system. Finally, it provides recommendations for     

Promote Sustainable Development for Irrigated Rice Through SSNM Technology in China

Today, the overuse of nitrogen （N） fertilizer and high N loss result in serious nitrate pollution of water and deter the sustainable development of agriculture and social economy. A recently developed site-specific nutrient management （SSNM） can reduce fertilizer N use while preventing the yield from falling. In this paper, we raise the question of fertilizer N application in rice production through a survey of farmers＇ practice of fertilizer N in 18 villages of four provinces. The average rate of N application for rice production in the 18 villages was 190 kg/ha, and 76% to 100% of the total fertilizer N which was applied within l0 days after transplanting resulted in lots of nitrate leached into water. Furthermore, we tested the effect of SSNM through farmer participatory trial. The SSNM technology maintained rice yields with significantly less fertilizer N and there was no increase in labor input, as much as 31% fertilizer N were saved with the SSNM technology. Finally, the paper points that extension and further research of the SSNM technology should be an effective method to deal with the contradiction of population, food and nitrate nonpoint pollution of water resource and promote the sustainability of agriculture.     

Tin mining and processing in Nigeria: cause for concern?

The range and means of measured dose rates and activity concentrations of 40K, natural U and Th in environmental samples of a Nigerian tin mine and its tailing sites are presented. The measured concentration levels of eU and eTh in tailing samples and the measured dose rates were found to be elevated with values up to approximately 100 times above background levels of control soils. For the purpose of protection of workers and the public it is therefore advisable that these sites should be properly monitored, controlled and potential remediation strategies be considered in order to avoid any radiological impact to the population.     

Using ADMS models for Air Quality Assessment and Management in China

1 INTRODUCTION Many cities and regions are undertaking studies of air quality in cities to determine both the current state of the environment and the effect of future economic and environmental strategies in order to manage local air quality. Often these studies are driven by legislation such as the European Union requirement to model agglomerations or the Chinese requirements to study air quality capacity and to forecast air quality. ADMS-Urban is the most widely used advanced dispers…     

Sustainable graywater reuse for residential landscape irrigation – a critical review

The demand for potable water is rising rapidly due to an ever-increasing population, economic activities, and dwindling water supplies. To provide adequate water supplies in the future, understanding the issues and challenges in the reuse of water and developing appropriate strategies for reuse will be critical. One way to augment water supplies for residential use is to reuse graywater – the wastewater from kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries. In this article, we critically review the evolution of water reuse, the definition of graywater, graywater reuse practices, volumes and flow in different situations, and graywater characteristics. We then examine the issues associated with different graywater treatment methods and how using graywater for irrigation around homes affects soil quality and plant growth. The study concludes that graywater treatment costs, human health risks, and its effect on soil quality are some of the challenges that need to be addressed in the future for widespread and sustainable reuse of graywater for irrigation around homes.